Warm sea, cool evenings, music on every plaza and a Christmas that lasts six weeks. December might be the best month of all to bring the family to Puerto Rico. Here's what to expect, and where to stay so you can enjoy it.
Picture your kids building a sandcastle under a palm tree wrapped in Christmas lights. The water is warm and clear, the trade wind keeps the afternoon comfortable, and from somewhere up the street comes the sound of a cuatro playing a carol you've never heard. That's December in Puerto Rico. It's beach weather and Christmas spirit in the same afternoon, and once your family has had both together, a cold December at home can feel like a strange idea.
It's also the island's busiest month for travel. Puerto Rico Tourism Company figures show December is the peak month for arrivals at the San Juan airport, when visitors and Puerto Ricans living on the mainland fly in for the holidays. That tells you two things. The island is at its most festive, and the best stays book up early.
Warm and pleasant, with the start of the drier season. Daytime temperatures usually sit in the low to mid eighties Fahrenheit, evenings are a little cooler, and the sea is warm enough for swimming every day. The north coast starts picking up winter swell, so beach conditions change, and short showers pass quickly.
Here's the December picture at a glance:
Christmas, for the whole month. Lights and decorations cover towns and plazas, parrandas bring music to people's doors, families gather for Nochebuena dinner on Christmas Eve, and the celebrations roll straight into New Year's Eve. It's one of the longest Christmas seasons anywhere, running from Thanksgiving to mid-January.
The island's signature tradition is the parranda, when friends turn up at someone's door late at night singing traditional aguinaldos with a cuatro, güiro and maracas. The hosts feed them, then join the group for the next house. We explained the whole tradition in What Is a Parranda in Puerto Rico?
Christmas Eve is the big night for many Puerto Rican families. Expect lechón asado, pasteles, arroz con gandules, and coquito, the island's coconut eggnog, followed by music and late-night visiting. Christmas Day itself is usually slower and family-centered.
The blue cobblestone streets of Old San Juan look their best in December, with lights on the balconies, decorated plazas and music in the evenings. It's an easy outing from Dorado, and kids love the huge lawn at El Morro, where families fly kites against the sea wall.
The month ends with the despedida de año, complete with twelve grapes at midnight and fireworks along the coast. The full night is in Where Should You Spend New Year's Eve in Puerto Rico?
Because it gives families beaches, space and calm, with the holiday buzz of San Juan close by. Dorado is a coastal town on the north shore, a short drive west of the city, with long beaches, golf courses and quiet streets. You get a house with a kitchen and room for everyone, and the whole island within reach.
December with kids is mostly about rhythm. A morning on the beach, lunch at home or at a local spot, a nap or a pool afternoon, and then an evening outing to see lights or catch some music. Dorado makes that rhythm easy. You're not crossing a city to reach the sand, you're not squeezed into a hotel room, and you can cook a proper Christmas dinner if that's part of your family's tradition.
It's also a smart choice for the big family gatherings that December brings. Grandparents, cousins and friends can each have their own space and still share the pool and the beach. Aqua Dorado has been hosting families in Dorado for nine years, with a 4.82 rating across more than 950 reviews on our travel listing sites.
Choose by the size of your group and how close you want the sand. Villas Del Mar gives a big family its own beachfront and separate apartments. Ville Moderna offers villas with full kitchens a short walk from the beach. Terrazas is right on the beachfront for a smaller family.
Mix beach days with a few big outings. El Yunque rainforest is a highlight for kids, Old San Juan is magical with the holiday lights, and a bioluminescent bay is an unforgettable night. Leave plenty of slow days for the beach and the pool, because those are the ones families remember.
El Yunque is the island's rainforest, with waterfalls, wet trails and the chirp of coquí frogs everywhere. Go early and check the official forest site for access and any timed-entry requirements. Our full plan is in El Yunque Day Trip from Dorado.
A bioluminescent bay is pure magic for older kids. You paddle after dark and the water glows blue with every stroke. Laguna Grande in Fajardo is the easiest from Dorado, and tours book up fast in December.
Closer to home, Dorado's restaurants range from seafood on a breezy deck to mofongo pressed in a wooden pilón, and we've rounded up our favorites in 7 Best Places to Eat and Things to Do in Dorado.
Choose your stay by family size, enter your dates and book directly on aquadorado.com.
Yes. The weather is warm and pleasant, hurricane season is over, and the island is at its most festive. It's also the busiest month, so book stays, flights and tours early.
Daytime temperatures are usually in the low to mid 80s °F, with slightly cooler evenings and sea temperatures warm enough for swimming every day.
December starts the drier season. Showers do happen, especially in the rainforest, but they tend to be short.
Parrandas, Nochebuena dinner on Christmas Eve, pasteles, lechón, coquito, and a season that runs from Thanksgiving to Three Kings Day on January 6 and beyond.
It's the island's busiest month for arrivals, especially around Christmas and New Year. Staying in Dorado keeps you close to the action without being in the middle of it.
Yes. The sea is warm, though the north coast gets winter swell, so pick the beach to suit the conditions and always check the lifeguard flags.
Beach mornings, Christmas evenings and room for everyone. Book your December in Dorado.
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